Wednesday, October 10, 2007

FOOT PATROL — Marines with 1st Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, climb up one of the steep hills on the edge of Dulab, Iraq, on their way to an overwatch position. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser - Story

Today in History1780 - The Great Hurricane of 1780 kills between 20 and 30 thousand in the Caribbean.1845 - The Naval School (U.S. Naval Academy) opens in Annapolis, MD.1846 - William Lassel discovers Neptune's moon Triton.1854 - The U.S. Assay Office opens in New York City.1865 - John Hyatts patents the billiard ball.1868 - Cuba revolts against Spain.1874 - Fiji becomes a British possession.1886 - The first dinner jacket is worn to the autumn ball at Tuxedo Park, NY, leading to its more familiar name, the tuxedo.1888 - In Mud Run, PA, a Teetotalers excursion train is crushed, killing 64.1913 - Gamboa Dam in Panama is blown up; the Atlantic and Pacific waters mix.1914 - German forces rout the Belgians in Antwerp.1923 - The NY Giants and the NY Yankees become the first teams to play each other in three consecutive World Series (it is also the first played at Yankee Stadium - World Series #20)1924 - The Washington Senators win their first World Series (they beat the Giants in 7 games - World Series #21)1933 - The first synthetic detergent for home use is marketed.1938 - Germany completes annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland.1943 - Chiang Kai-shek takes the oath of office as president of China.1957 - President Eisenhower apologizes to Ghana;s Finance Minister Komla Agbeli Gbdemah, after Gbdemah is refused service in a Delaware restaurant.1963 - The U.S., U.K., and U.S.S.R. sign a treaty banning atmospheric nuclear tests.1970 - Fiji gains independence from Britain.1973 - VP Spiro T. Agnew resigns after pleading no contest to tax evasion.1975 - Israel formally signs the Sinai accord with Egypt.1976 - In NJ, Giants' Stadium (Meadowlands) opens; Greece's Dimitrion Yordanidis becomes the oldest man (at 98) to compete in a marathon, finishing in 7:33.1978 - President Carter authorizes the Susan B. Anthony dollar.1979 - Panama assumes sovereignty over the Canal Area (Zone).1980 - 4,500 die when a two earthquakes strike northwest Algeria; the Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope network is dedicated.1981 - Anwar Sadat's funeral service is held in Cairo.1982 - Pope John Paul II canonizes Reverend M. Kolbe, who volunteered to die in place of another inmate at the Auschwitz concentration camp.1985 - U.S. fighter jets force the Egyptian plane carrying the hijackers of the Italian ship Achille Lauro to land in Italy, the hijackers are placed in custody.1986 - A magnitude 7.5 Earthquake strikes San Salvador, El Salvador; Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres resigns.1990 - The 67th manned U.S. space mission (STS-41 / Discovery-11) returns to Earth.1991 - Greyhound Bus ends bankruptcy.